Lazarus-Cross of the Union

The Union´s Lazarus Cross

- a new milestone in saying “thank You”

Helping respective organizations without question!

In its tradition as a non-partisan and interdenominational organization, the LAZARUS UNION has founded the “Lazarus Cross of the Union” as a visible thank you for ALL benefactors that have given support, through donations large or small, to an organization of their choice.

We are of the firm conviction that supporting any charitable organization ultimately serves the same purpose as our aims. Therefore, for the LAZARUS UNION, it does not matter what the political, religious or spiritual orientation of a charity is, as long as the guarantee is given that the donations have the ‘seal of approval’ of meeting our underlying guidelines.

The LAZARUS UNION, which sees itself as an international umbrella organization and is registered as an NGO at the United Nations and the European Union, deliberately does not award itself this Cross for organizational reasons. However, the Union would like to give all members, and especially non-members, the opportunity to receive this recognition of their charitable work.

This LAZARUS UNION award is to thank people who are engaged in charitable activities, working for peace and reconciliation and standing up for others, and also OTHER organizations that meet our donations ‘seal of approval’ (e.g. the Red Cross, UN agencies, Doctors Without Borders, Fire Services, the Samaritans, Caritas, Diakonia, the Weiße Möwe flying club, Vinzi Rast-Corti Haus, etc., etc.).

This has never been done before!

The LAZARUS UNION is taking a new (and unconventional) path here!

Awarding guidelines:

On the basis of donations to other organisations

Anyone donating a minimum amount of EUR 50.- (or the equivalent in other currencies) to a charitable humanitarian NGO organisation (in Austria an approved charity organisation with “Spendengütesiegel“) is entitled to file an application for themselves requesting to be awarded the Union‘s Lazarus Cross (click Application form Lazarus Cross Afor an application form). The application form together with proof of the donation shall be mailed to the LAZARUS UNION via email: lazarus-union@chello.at Subject “Union Cross“ or by conventional mail.

Once every month a board will examine all contributions and select the highest ten donations for an award. Yet a specific amount is no requirement for an award.

Obviously the rule is: the higher the amount the greater the probability for an award. This rule shall ensure that the donation is in the centre of the focus and not the award. So when making the donation the donators themselves do not know “how big the reward“ will be.

The selected donators will be informed and as soon as the cost contribution is received certificates will be drawn and mailed respectively handing over will be agreed. No legal entitlement to the above-mentioned awards shall be constituted from an application. All decisions are final and not subject to legal appeal.

On the basis of an application to the board of the LAZARUS UNION

Anyone who has notice of persons acting in charitable humanitarian ways worth an award is entitled to file an application directed to the board of management of the Lazarus Union that these persons shall be awarded (click Application form Lazarus Cross B for an application form). The application form shall be mailed to the LAZARUS UNION via email: lazarus-union@chello.at Subject “Union Cross“ or by conventional mail.

Such application will be examined by a board and in case of a positive decision the respective level of the award will be decided on. “Lazarus Crosses“ awarded this way will AS A BASIC PRINCIPLE be awarded at no charges. This implies that also all insignia cost contributions will be waived.

By this the donators of this award ensure that the award is not for sale and as such is a valuable and REAL honour not everybody can have as there are no commercial interests in this award.

The receiver will be informed and a ceremonial handover agreed. Again, no legal entitlement to the above-mentioned awards shall be constituted from an application. All decisions are final and not subject to legal appeal. Also other awards (according to the respective regulations) can be selected.

By filing any application for this award these terms and conditions are accepted and agreed on.

For the LAZARUS UNION the fact is important that this award can NOT just be purchased. One has to DO something to get it.

But it is GENERAL the rule for all given decorations, awards and insignias in honor of the awardees, that award winners may be neither sold nor given away them to third parties in their lifetime!

Description of the Insignia:

This elaborate and affectionately designed insignia consists of a star with four different layers.

The first layer is a star 80mm in diameter with eight rounded and angled rays emerging from its centre. Depending on the level the star is silver or gold plated and carries the actual cross.

The second layer is a double edged slightly flattened Maltese cross with eight points, separated in the middle, with a 60mm diameter and a 14mm smooth circle in the centre.

At the eight tips, symbolising the knightly virtues, are eight golden hemispheres, symbolising the eight beatitudes. The white framing of the green cross (green as the colour of hope) between the wider outer and narrower inner edge stands for the colour of chasteness.

The third layer consists of a circle made of eight three-dimensional flaming circles 50mm in diameter, with white middies and tips pointing outwards. These flame bundles symbolise the eightfold misery. In the middle of the flaming bundles is a finely structured edged decoration circle with a cavity holding the middle medallion.

This middle medallion 15mm in diameter makes up the fourth layer of the insignia. It has a subtle doubly structured edge in between which the LAZARUS UNION principles in Latin are arranged with a green background: “TOLERANTIA + HUMILITAS + CARITAS + MISERICORDIA.“ In a region of about 1cm² the Christ raising of Lazarus is depicted. This wonderful artistically engraved three-dimensional colourfully enriched illustration is the “eye-catcher“ of this insignia.

All four layers are carried out convex and such are suggestive of special elegance and three-dimensionality. For all levels corresponding miniatures are available (dimensions: cross 15mm diameter, star 22mm diameter).

The distinction is awarded in five levels:

Multible awards are possible!

1. Officer Cross as pectoral cross

2. Commander Cross as collar cross

3. Grand Commander Cross as pectoral cross with silver-plated star

4. Grand Cross as pectoral cross with gold-plated star

5. Grand Cross Special Level as neck cross with trophy

Miniatures of the Lazarus-Cross

Original picture of the miniature of the Lazarus Cross

Contribution to the Insignia Costs

We cannot (as much as we would like to) give away these insignia as gifts and so we feel impelled to levy a small contribution (which is by far not covering the full costs). As we want to prize the outstanding quality of the donations with appropriate quality of the insignia and we also have some administrative expenses we ask you to consider the amounts given below as a guide to being awarded the Lazarus Cross. The Lazarus Union does not aim to make money donating the Lazarus Cross but aims to keep the awards (almost) cost-covering, being careful not to put a strain on its own humanitarian activities.

The LAZARUS UNION expects this promotion to increase in people the willingness to make donations to all goodwill organisations.

If the insignia contribution to the die LAZARUS UNION is “brought up to a round figure“ such a donation will be accepted with gratitude and used for our own projects.

Generally we ask for the following cost contributions:

Insignia:

Cross (Officer and Commander) EUR 28.-

Cross with star (Grand Commander and Grand Cross) EUR 34.-

Neck cross with trophy (GrandCross Special Level) EUR 39.-

Miniatures (unmounted):

Cross (Officer and Commander) EUR 5.-

Cross with star (Grand Commander and Grand Cross) EUR 10.-

Neck cross with trophy (GrandCross Special Level) EUR 15.-

Ribbon (unmounted):

For all levels of the cross EUR 6.-

Please include in your application the type of insignia requested and information if shipping is required. Thank you!

Postage and packing:

In general it is desired to award the insignia personally in the course of some specific event. As this will often not be possible the following postage rates apply:

Shipping toAustriaEUR 6.-

Shipping to the European Union EUR 15.-

Shipping outside of the EU and overseas EUR 25.-

The insignia will be send by REGISTERED MAIL with insurance. Please make sure to provide an exact postal address for delivery.